Matrix rolling machine



March 14, 1939.,

H. c. BEHRENS MATRIX ROLLING MACHINE 2 sheets-sheet I Filed Nay 14, 1938 v March 14, 1939. H. c. BEHRl-:Ns 2,150,711

MATRIX ROLLING MACHINE Filed nay 14, 1958 2 sheets-sheet 2 W5. I e

Patented Mar. 14, 1939 irse STAT-Es eATlf-Enfr lofei=fies "MATRIX ROLLING' MACHINE Herbert C. Behrens, Battle Creek, Mich., assign- .or .to..Duplex Printingflwess Company, Battle Creek, Mich., a corporation "of Michigan AApplication *May 14, 1938,Y Serial No. 208,016

.17 Claims. (Crm1- 1.2)

This Vinvention relates to matrix rolling mar'chines adapted to press sheets of ong or matrix material against the printing surface of 'type forms to produce therein an' intaglio impression,

h.5 `Stereotype vplates being subsequently cast from said impressed matrix. Such machines, ordinarily called mat rollers usually comprise a reciprocating iiat'bed'on` which is placed the-chase Icontaining a type form, 'an upper roller being ,10 vertically adjustably'mountedabove and cooper- Yatingwith the bed, anda lower roller beingplaced under the bed 'along the line of pressure of the upper'roller to support thebed underjpressure of the upper roller. The'ong-.or-.matrix material is :15"piaced -upon the ftype "form Awith one or more I'blankets Vof. resilient material such asffelt, rubber, "or 'cork disposed thereover.

"The upper roller is adjusted to press the :blankets downwardly-with sufficient forceto press '-20 'the'iongfor matrix material into Ytheinters'tices ,"ofthe'typefiorm, .making therein areverse copy of the form. "Thebed, after making one pressing stroke on the matrix, stops automatically. At the Vend `o`fsuch stroke, while the'be'd'is stationary,

w25 'the mat and form may'beremoved and the bed maybestart'ed on its return stroke. .A new Isheet 'of Hong .may then be placed ontheiorm `(or-a rn'ew'form') so'that 'amat may be made at each stroke 'of `the bed.

"'I'hisnratrlxis'placed in 'a casting machine to Vproducen curved .printing plate which has Von its 'outerisuiace an exact copyof the'typeform. "It isimportant. that these plates ifcastlfrom different matrices register with .each other, especially @35 when two to 'four plates are usedinltheprinting "press to print von the' same'page,for obviously lthe plate'sused 'for one color should print in .places left blarik`foranother color so that' the colors will noto'verla'p'in places, or blank'spaceswill not-be 1.40 "left where printing'should `appear.

It is customary ito drive `positively .the upper vroller 'by 'gears une'shing' with either "the bed "or 'thelower rollerf'sotnat the upper roller will'revolveiwith-"thesame:peripheral '.:spee'd and inthe x15 "same direction as thebed. It hasbe'eniound'in practice that the loose blankets between the'lupper roller and the matrixat times will 'creepfand cause"the matrix'tocreep on Ithe type form "there- "byresulting in distortion' sothatthematri'ces will not match or register. "The strokeof the kbed is `'necessarily longer 'than the length `of the type 'form and "chase, Aand sufficient length is provided '"sothat the 'operator can 'manipulate the iiong and fblanktsbefore theyfenterthe bite 'ofthe upper .255 '-rollerfasfit zrevfilves. My lpresentinvention i's-an 'improvement in the means arfdinetho'd off-driving .thev upper roller in such rn'atrix'rolling 'machines, and consists in driving the upperroller to overcome its inertia as the' bed starts its stroke, utilizing the time during which `-theupper ro-ll is 5 passing over the endof the chase,'and then releasing the driving means of said roller to allow same'to revolve freely over 'the form, said upper roller being then driven only by Lfrictional contact of its surface with the blankets 'while the 'bed -1'0 is passing under the roller.

In thevaccompanying drawings A-I have illustrated several practical embodiments of theinvention, and will describe the same with reference thereto, and will refer to the claims-for the '.15 Yessentials of the invention, and novel features of construction, and novel combinations of'parts, for which protection is desired.

In said drawings:--`

"Fig, 1 is a longitudinal section through `one -20 form of matrix rolling machine, showing the position assumed by the partsfo'f drivingme'ans for the upper lroller when the bed is' inmidposition.

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. `1 showingthe -25 position of the parts ofthe driving means when the bed is at the outer extremity of one'stroke.

Fig. 3 is a transverse'sectionthrough the center 'ofthe machine shown in Figs. l'and 2.

Fig. 4 is an Aend elevation showing the driving y30 means applied to adiierent 'form of machine.

AFig. 5 is an enlarged elevation -showing more indetail the mounting of a vfriction block in the driving disk.

Fig. 6-is a section on the line 6 6, Fig. 5. 35

The invention is illustrated in Figs. 1-3 in connection with a hydraulic matrix 'rolling machine such as shown in a copending application of Thomas H. Marsan'd Herbert C. Behrens, Serial 'No. 127,306, filed February 23, "1937,"the"machine -40 "comprising opposite sideirames land 2 Vsuitably connected'togetheriand in whichthebed 4 travels,

thelength of "the .iframes `being vslightly greater than 'the length 'ofthebed 4"plus its length "of travel. "The bed 4 reciprocates horizontally "on l'45 track'bars l, "ia, (Fig. 3) 'in the'side vfram'esfand is supported atthepressure point upon'a centrally disposedlower roller 5, disposed `beneath an'upper'roller 6, thelower roller 5 being journaled in Yb'earings'iiat, '5by in the side frames, while the up- 50 per'or presser roller is journ'aled in bearings Vlia '(Figf3) supported in hangers 3 lwhich are vertically adjustable in guideways `(not-shown) in the iside frames. 'Ihe shaft of lower roller 5 carries ige'ars Eclat its Aends lwhich-meshlrespectively 'with ik! racks 4d on the underside of bed 4 adjacent track bars 1, 1a, so that the bed will travel at the same speed as the periphery of roll 5. In said copending application Serial No. 127,306 the bed 4 0r roller is driven directly by hydraulic means, comprising cylindric bores 4a Vin which are mounted stationary pistons 4b dividing the cylinders 4a into right and left chambers 4r and 4Z. To the pistons 4b are connected the inner ends of axially aligned tubes 4e, 4f, the outer ends ofwhich are connected to end bars la; of the frame by couplings 4g. The ends of cylinders 4a are closed by heads 4h provided with stuffing boxes 4i making a close sliding t on tubes 4Z, 41, and oil or other fluid is alternately pumped into either chamber 4Z, 4r through pipes 4j opening into the outer ends of tubes 4e, 4f, each tube having an opening Mc adjacent the piston 4b, so that while uid is pumped into one chamber, fluid is being exhausted from the other, a suitable valve means (not shown) operated by levers 4m controlling the flow of fluid from a pump and reservoir as disclosed in said application. The cylinders 4a and pistons 4b serve to intermittently reciprocate the bed, and consequently rotate the roll 5 by reason of the racks and pinions 4d, 5d. If desired the roll 5 might be rotated directly as disclosed also in said application in order to intermittently reciprocate the bed 4.

In the aforesaid application Serial No. 127,306 the shaft of lower roller 5 adjacent they side frame 2 was provided with a large gear meshing with a gear of same size on the adjacent end of the shaft of upper roller 6, so as to syn.- chronize the peripheral speeds of the said rollers with the movement of bed 4, the rollers rotating in the same direction as the bed. In my improved construction however the said intermeshing gears on rollers 5 and 6 are removed, and in place ofV said gears the shaft of upper roller 5 is provided with a driven disk 6e, and the shaft of lower roller 5 provided with a driving disk 5e, the disks being disposed adjacent but of such diameter that their peripheries normally do not contact, same being slightly spaced apart.

The driving disk 5e is of such diameter that it will not make a complete revolution while the bed travels through its stroke; limits, and in the periphery of driving disk 5e are a pair of recesses 5g in which are arranged radially movable friction driving blocks 5f,said blocks being of substantial arcuate length and being normally urged outwardly by springs 5.71., suitable means being provided to retain the blocks in the recesses. Blocks 5f are so spaced that when the bed 4 approaches either` outer extremity of its movement, as in Fig. 2, a block 5f will pass into frictional contact with the periphery of driven disk 6e, so that when the bed reaches its extreme limit of movement the blocks 5f will exert frictional pressure on the driven disk Be for substantially the full arcuate length of the block when the movement of the bed is reversed, the block 5f thus serving to overcome the inertia of upper roller 6 as the bed starts its Vreverse stroke in` the direction of the arrow (Fig. 2) and causing the upper roller 6 to rotate in the same direction as the movement of the bed. As soo-n however as block 5j passes out of contact with driven disk Se the drive for upper roller 6 will be released, allowing said roller to revolve freely over the type form and blanket on the bed, same being driven only by the friotional contact of its surface with the blanket (not shown) on said type form while the form is passing under roller 6 on the .matrix rolling stroke. As the bed may pass to either side of upper rolle'r 6 when rolling a matrix, on either orV both strokes ofthe bed, two such friction blocks 5f are provided in driving disk 5e so spaced as to drive positively the upper roller as above described at each extremity of the. beds stroke. As the lower roller 5 does not make a complete revolution in rolling a matrix, there is ample space on the driving disk 5e for positioning the two friction blocks 5f. In the construction shown in Figs. 1-3 the driving and driven disks 5e, 6e are housed entirely within the side frame 2 of the machine, as were the intermeshing gears in the aforesaid application which the said disks replace.

In Fig. 4 a mat rolling machine is shown which is actuated by a worm gear drive. In this modification the shaft for the lower roller 5 is provided with a large worm gear 5:1: meshing with a worm Il! on a shaft il which may be driven directly by a motor I2. The shaft of the lower roller is also provided with pinions 5d meshing with racks 4d (not shown) on the underside of the bed Il as in Figs. 1-3. In this modification the shafts of both the upper and lower rollers extend through the frame 2m, and the shaft of the upper roller is provided with the driven disk 6e as iniFigs. 1-3, while the shaft of the lower roller is provided with a driving disk 5e as in Figs. 13, the disk 5e carrying the two friction blocks 5f adapted to contact with the driven disk 6e when the bed 4 is in either outer extremity of its movement. In Fig. 4 the disks 6e and 5e are disposed outside the frame 2x.

The friction blocks 5f may be of any desired form. They may be raised friction surfaces, or formed and mountedv as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, or may be formed and mounted as shown in Figs. 5 and 6. In Figs. 5 and 6 the disk 5e is provided with rectangular recesses 5k extending from side to side `through the disk 5e at its periphery and the friction blocks 5f conform in shape to the recesses and are provided with arcuate outer faces. Radially disposed bores 5m are provided `in the blocks 5f, the inner ends of which are reduced as at 57a, and studs 5o are passed through the bores 57i with their heads disposed within the larger ends 5m of the bores, the studs vpassing through enlarged bores 5p in the bases of the recesses 5k, the studs 57o having reduced lower ends 511 which are threaded into tapped bores 5r at the bases of bores 5p. Studs 5o are of sufficient length so that the friction blocks 5f may move radially thereon with respect to disk 56, the blocks being normally urged outwardly on the studs, until the heads of the studs seat in the bases of bores 5m, by means of coiled springs 5S around the studs within bores 5p having their ends respectively engaging vthe undersides of blocks 5f and the bottoms of bores 5p. The blocks 5f are thus yieldablymounted on the disk 5e while maintained in proper positions thereon.

I do not limit my invention to the exact forms shown in the drawings for obviously changes may be made therein within the scope of the claims.

' I claim:-

1. In a matrix rolling machine, a frame; ya

bed reciprocably mounted in the frame; a roller journaled in the frame above the bed; a shaft journaled in the frame and disposed parallel with the roller; means forsynchronously driving the bed and shaft; and normally disengaged means on the roller and shaft adapted to engage when the bed is at and adjacent its extreme youtward limits of movement to cause the roller to rotate synchronously with the bed.

2. In a matrix rolling machine as set forth in claim 1, said engaging means being housed within the frame of the machine.

3. In a matrix rolling machine as set forth in claim 1, said engaging means comprising a disk on the roller; a member on the shaft normally disengaged from the disk; and friction elements on the member so disposed that an element will contact the disk whenever the bed is at and adjacent said limits.

4. In amatrix rolling machine as set forth in claim 1; said engaging means comprising a driven disk on the roller; a driving disk operated by the shaft adjacent and normally spaced from the driven disk and adapted to make less than one complete revolution while the bed is moving between said limits; and a pair of friction elements mounted on the driving disk so disposed that one element will contact the driven disk whenever the bed is at and adjacent said limits.

5. In a matrix rolling machine as set forth in claim 1; said engaging means comprising a driven disk on the roller; a driving disk on the shaft opposite and normally spaced from the driven disk and adapted to make less than one complete revolution while the bed is moving between said limits; and a pair of friction blocks of substantial arcuate length yieldably mounted in the periphery of the driving disk and so disposed that one block will contact the driven disk whenever the bed is at and adjacent said limits.

6. In a matrix rolling machine, a frame; a bed reciprocably mounted in the frame; an upper roller journaled in the frame above the bed; a lower roller journaled in the frame below and supporting the bed and disposed parallel with the upper roller; means for synchronously driving the bed and lower roller; and normally disengaged means on the rollers adapted to engage when the bed is at and adjacent its extreme outward limits of movement to cause the upper roller to rotate synchronously with the bed.

7, In a matrix rolling machine as set forth in claim 6, said engaging means being housed within the frame of the machine.

8. In a matrix rolling machine as set forth in claim 6; said engaging means comprising a disk on the upper roller, a member on the lower roller normally spaced from the driven disk; and friction elements on the member so disposed that an element will contact the driven disk whenever the bed is in and adjacent said limits.

9. In a matrix rolling machine as set forth in claim 6; said engaging means comprising a driven disk on the upper roller, a driving disk operated by the lower roller adjacent and normally spaced from the driven disk and adapted to make less than one complete revolution while the bed is moving between said limits; and a pair of friction elements mounted on the driving disk so disposed that one element will contact the driven disk whenever the bed is at and adjacent said limits.

10. In a matrix rolling machine as set forth in claim 6; said engaging means comprising a ydriven disk on the upper roller, a driving disk on the lower roller opposite and normally spaced from the driven disk and adapted to make less than one complete revolution while the bed is moving between said limits; and a pair of friction blocks of substantial arcuate length yieldably mounted in the periphery of the driving disk and so disposed that one block will contact the driven disk whenever the bed is at and adjacent said limits.

l1. In a matrix rolling machine having a reciprocable bed, and having a roller coacting with the bed, and having a shaft parallel with the roller, and having means for synchronously driving the bed and shaft; a driven disk on the roller; a driving disk on the shaft normally disengaged from the driven disk; and members on the driving disk adapted to contact the driven disk whenever the bed is at and adjacent its extreme outward limits of movement to the roller to revolve synchronously with the bed while the members are in said contact.

12. In a matrix rolling machine as set forth in claim 11, said driving disk making less than one complete revolution while the bed is moving between said limits.

13. In Aa matrix rolling machine as set forth in claim 11, said members comprising friction blocks of substantially arcuate length radially movably mounted in recesses in the periphery of the driving disk; and spring means for normally urging the blocks outwardly.

14. In a matrix rolling machine having a reciprocable bed, and having an upper roller coacting with the bed, and having a lower roller supporting the bed and disposed parallel withV the upper roller, and having means for synchronously driving the bed and lower roller; a driven disk on the upper roller; a driving disk on the lower rolle-r normally disengaged from the driven disk; and members on the driving disk adapted to contact the driven disk whenever the bed is at and adjacent its extreme outward limits of movement to cause the upper roller to revolve synchronously with the bed While the members are in said contact.

15. In a matrix rolling machine as set forth in claim 14, said driving disk making less than one complete revolution while the bed is moving between said limits.

16. In a matrix rolling machine as set forth in claim 14, said members comprising friction blocks of substantially arcuate length radially movably mounted in recesses in the periphery of the driving disk; and spring means for normally urging the blocks outwardly.

17. In a matrix rolling machine having a reciprocable bed adapted to receive a type form, flong, and blanket, and having a roller for exerting pressure on the blanket, and having means for reciprocating the bed; means actuated by the bed whenever the bed is at and adjacent its extreme outward limits of movement for causing the roller toi revolve synchronously with the bed until the blanket enters the bite of the roller, the roller being rotated by frictional contact with the blanket during the remaining portions of each stroke.

HERBERT C. BEHREN S. 

